First, a link to an article about a guy I knew for a brief, but interesting, period: Airick Leonard West. I knew none of his story when we were running in overlapping circles, but I can’t say I’m surprised by a word of it. Definitely a worthwhile read.
Moving on to more prosaic matters: so, I was just asked, “How’s that baseball stadium going?”
For the uninitiated, the Wizards are playing in a new venue for the first time since beginning play at Arrowhead in 1996: CommunityAmerica Ballpark, home of the (Northern League?) T-Bones. Obviously, it’s quite a change, moving from 80,000 seat Arrowhead to 8,000 seat CAB. Other differences:
* There is not unlimited parking. You might have to walk a few blocks through the Legends and cross at a stoplight. If you aren’t feeling up to it, we’re providing constant shuttle buses. This is a matter of some consternation for some people.
* Say what you will about us playing in the lower bowl of Arrowhead, there were a lot more equivalently good seats than there are at CAB. Therefore, seat selection really wasn’t a problem for anybody. Some of our half-season ticket holders, particularly the ones who have been with us for a long time (even since the first season) were a bit put off by no longer getting to have front row seats at midfield. We let full season ticket holders, no matter their seniority, go first. This is not crazy or evil.
* The stadium is just *different*. It’s designed for baseball. The front row is at ground level rather than 6 feet up like Arrowhead, designed for people to see over the teams on the sidelines. This = you really might not want seats in the front row. People have a hard time believing me.
* The seats high and behind the endline, and the bleachers we’re installing over what is usually the (18 foot) left-field wall are considerably superior to the seats along the sideline that the half-season ticket holders can choose from (Sec. 105). I feel like I explain this thoroughly. About a third of them just don’t listen. Whatever.
* If we could go over the mound, the sideline and corner seats would probably be a little better, but, then again, the bleacher seats wouldn’t be as good.
Anyway, we’re three weeks out, and there’s a lot of explaining left to do. The opener kicks off a series of four games in three weeks before we have two months without a home game. I wish the transition could be a bit more gradual.
